A Georgia-based shoe company, Okabashi, will be donating up to 10,000 pairs of soy-based sandals to health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 5,000 pairs have been donated so far. “Soybean oil is a very special product,” said Todd Hanten, a soybean farmer from South Dakota and director, United Soybean Board. “I’ve been farming for 36 years and I’d never imagined we’d have it in shoes and sandals. It’s so cool to be part of it and to know we’re actually producing a product that’s better for our environment and for the world.” The soy-checkoff is also taking part in other donations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing soy-based hand sanitizer and meals of U.S. pork to food-insecure families. Hear the story.
